Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-12-16
SUCCESS ON THE STAGE.
A Managers Advice to Young Men al
Women-A jealous PLATFORM.

A Managers Advice to Young Men and
Women-A Jealous Platform.
happened into the office of Manager A. NJ.
Palmer few days ago when this subject was
touched upon. Mr.. Palmer is president of
the Actors fund and is a man of liberal edu-
cation He is known all over this country
and in Europe. He has one of the best
libraries of dramatic literature in this coul-
try. He has helped hundreds of young men
and women to get on the stage. He talked
freely and frankly on the subject. I asked
him:
''What chance does the dramatic profession
offer to young men and womeng'
''The same chance that the studio affords,
that the pen affords-given equal industry,
patience, taste, talent and fitness for the cali
ing, success is as possible and as probable on
the stage as i'll any other artistic profession
he replied.
'If you We're asked by young man or wo-
man with desire to go on the stage for an
opinion would you advise them to do so, OF.
to seek a professional OF commercial lifeN'
''As a rule, I repeat, 1 should say, avoid
the stage. What is called talent ON the stage
means simply peculiar temperament, which
for lack of a better adjective, we generally
call the 'mimetic' temperament 1t is very
doubtful that either Caesar, Napoleon or
Washington would have made as good all
actor as many a man, whose intellect COM
pared to theirs would be as drop of water
to the Atlantic ocean. Without this pecu-
harity of temperament marked success is
almost unattainable even by the most intel
lectually refined man or woman, however
enthusiastically equipped. This temperament
is rare-far more rare than are such higher
tno1itiaS of tho mind &c
such temperament exists in man. I
should not deter him from going on tho
stage"
How about a womang'
''That is different and, let me add, far
| more delicate question to answer. Granted
| that a lady possesses and evinces the posses
sion OF the needed temperament and other
| qualities OF great actress, | should still
hesitate to take the responsibility of advising
| her to adopt the life OF the stage"
"Why?'
because of the great sacrifices woman
| is forced to make who steps from the solid,
| quiet happiness of private life to the glitter
| of public one The sanctities of home, the
pride of womanly reserve, are high prices to
pay either for the qualification of vanity or.
the accumulation of money. Do not mistake
me. A moral woman car remain SO on the
stage Just as we'll as off of it. | refer not to
that at all, but to the exchange of the home
for the theatre the substitution of the ex-
elements of professional rivalries and jeal-
ousies for the quiet enjoyment of the priva-
cies of family life. The stage is a jealous
platform. 1t is Aut Caesar, aut nulus, with
it, 1t denies to the wife and mother the
evening of rest. 1t deprives her husband or
father of her companionship at those very
hours when it would be sweetest, and in spite
of what she may do, substitutes feverish
qualification alternated with disappointments
bitter as aloes for the quiet happiness that is
fullest and most satisfying to the female
heart."-New York Letter